​As the main partner of the new Batman VS Superman Holywood movie, and to celebrate the launch of this blockbuster, Turkish Airlines, the national flag carrier of Turkey, decorated one of their aircraft in a dual-sided design for one of their 777-300ERs. On the boarding side, the superman logo is emblazoned on the empennage, whilst on the other, the large batman symbol can be seen.

​The airline even started an advertising campaign that promotes the carrier’s new routes Gotham City and Metropolis (which allegedly was the topic of some amusement, as after the commercial some people wanted to purchase tickets to the two fictional cities). The YouTube video has already reached over 27 million views in under two months, showcasing the success of this brand partnership for the carrier.

Earlier this week, Japan Airlines (JAL), the national flag carrier of Japan, announced a new cabin enhancement for their Boeing 777-200ER fleet which would ‘raise the bar one class above in all cabin services”, according to a press release from the carrier.
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The brand new Business Class is dubbed “JAL Sky Suite 777 (SS2)” and is scheduled to be launched on the Tokyo Haneda- Bangkok route from July 2016, and will also be introduced on Tokyo Haneda -Singapore route and also the Honolulu route from the winter season later this year.

​The new Business Class seats are manufactured by Herringbone, and are similar to the Zodiac Cirrus Aero seats found on Air France, Cathay Pacific and American Airlines. The most pleasant thing to note is that all of the seats have an all-aisle access in a 1-2-1 configuration. The customisation of the seats include a small privacy partition and customised storage for passengers. There is also a large 17” PTV screen for entertainment, which is an enhancement from the current 10” screens, and will showcase a range of movies and entertainment on a brand new inflight entertainment system dubbed “Magic VI”.

​Yoshiharu Ueki, President of Japan Airlines, said, “Our aim is to deliver enhanced services and products to more customers. We have developed this new Business Class seat with highly in-flight habitability and provision of appropriate capacity as well.” He went on to say, “JAL will be continuing to embrace new challenges, and striving to become the most preferred airline in the world.” 

​Earlier this week, Malaysia Airlines, the national flag carrier of Malaysia, unveiled brand new fully-flat Business Class seats fitted in its first Airbus A330-300 aircraft. The new seats will be introduced on the airline’s Kuala Lumpur–Sydney route.

 The new Business Class seat product for the airline is a great step up from the current angle lie-flat seats, which is available on the Boeing 777-200 and the Airbus A380-800 aircraft; although the layout doesn’t provide each passenger with aisle access. The seat layout is in a 1-2-1 and 1-2-2 configuration. This seat configuration is a smart move for Malaysia Airlines, who are currently going through a brand restructuring process.

​The Business Class seat offers a pitch of 44 inches and a width of 20 inches. When extended the seats convert into a bed 76 inches long. The seats come with increased working space and extra stowage space for personal items. Each seat is equipped with a 16-inch touch screen in-flight entertainment system. The seats are designed and manufactured by Thompson Aero’s long standing partner, Factorydesign, a UK based leading product design and aviation specialist company.

​Speaking at the event, Malaysia Airlines chief commercial officer Paul Simmons said, “This marks the start of an exciting product roll-out for our Business Class customers to experience. The Business Class cabin refurbishment will be carried out in stages on all 15 of Malaysia Airlines’ A330 aircraft by September 2016.” He went on to say: “With the launch of our new seats, we are confident that Malaysia Airlines will be the first choice for travel to, from and around Malaysia. We are also confident that these seats will further improve and strengthen our premium product and service offerings.” 

​Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA)’s hunt for seven talented British chefs to take off on a unique trip to Japan to learn the secrets of the country’s legendary cuisine has taken another step forward. The chefs have now been whittled down to seven, and dubbed as ANA’s seven ‘Samurai Chefs.’ The talented chefs from the UK were whisked to Japan on for an immersive culinary tour, sponsored by ANA.
 
Hand-picked by a judging panel that included the world-renowned chef Hideki Maeda from Nobu and Yuki Gomi of Yuki’s Kitchen, the chefs were given the full Japanese culinary experience that included the showcasing of unique production methods behind popular local delicacies and visited some of the country’s most popular food markets, as well as renowned restaurants in Tokyo, Osaka, Toba and Kyoto.
 
As a result of the trip, the seven chefs created some spectacular results, including salmon donburi and popcorn-smoked dashi, to ponzu-infused calamari and zesty hibachi. Fighting off fierce competition, only one Samurai Chef will win the chance to collaborate with ANA’s own award-winning catering team to create a light meal for its Winter 2016 Business Class menu on the airlines London Heathrow–Tokyo Narita route (mostly flown using the Boeing 777 or the Boeing 787-8).

Here are the seven finalists:

Cured Hamachi, Cucumber & Lemon Verbena Donburi
Spencer Metzger, London
​
“My inspiration was for a donburi dish that’s light, fresh, full of acidity and one that is not served hot, as this is the common perception of in-flight food. I want ANA’s guests to be surprised with an exceptional meal. My dish can be prepared fresh and finished on board along with the side garnishes.”

​Earlier this week, Aeromexico, the national flag carrier of Mexico, revealed their latest bold social media advertising campaign in a bid to promote Mexico as much more than just its stereotypical global perception. The campaign, produced by Ogilvy & Mather Mexico, premiered on television, radio, print, and billboards, and will gradually include different types of ads and graphic materials. The social media ad provides a selection of vignettes to dispel the myths cantered around Mexico, and showcase it as a progressive and peaceful destination (and is mostly aimed the US audience- I can only hope that Donald Trump and his supporters are closely watching this, too!)
 
Part of a new marketing campaign, the airline states that “Aeromexico is undergoing a comprehensive renovation plan focused on innovation. Proof of this can be found in the carrier’s fleet evolution program featuring nine Boeing 787 Dreamliners, considered one of the most modern commercial airplanes in the sky.”

Xiamen Airlines of China has recently announced the introduction of new uniforms for their male cabin crew. This follows on from their announcement in May 2015 about the introduction of new uniforms for their female cabin crew. Xiamen Airlines has one of the most colorful brand liveries around, and the new uniforms are in line with the colors of the brand.

​Designed by the famous Taiwanese fashion designer Jamei Chen, the new male uniforms include off-tailored silhouettes that hark back to the JetSet era, whilst being neatly blended with contemporary touches, such as mandarin collar shirts and stylish black leather gloves.

​The color palette used is sleek and stylish, with aqua and cobalt blue tones running through the uniforms. “The empire waist design used on dress and waistcoat makes the uniform more classic and gives the wearer a better figure. The combination of different blue comes from the brand color which represent the sky and the sea.” XiamenAir confirmed in a PR statement on their new uniform.

​The smart pill box hats, waist bands and gloves on the ladies outfit adds a ‘fashion catwalk’ edge to the uniforms whilst the men’s three piece tailored suit feels understated, smart and effortless with the hidden buttons on the waistcoat offering clean sharp lines.

​Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) took delivery of the first of nine new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft at Zurich Airport at 9:14 a.m. on January 30, marking a new era in Switzerland's aviation history. The 777-300ER aircraft, which bears the registration HB-JNA and name "November Alpha", was welcomed with loud applause from the especially invited media and VIP guests, and the large number of proud SWISS fans and other keen spectators.
 
The youngest and biggest member of the SWISS fleet was flown to Zurich from Boeing's Everett Factory in Seattle. On January 29, SWISS also officially opened First Class, Business Class and Senator Lounge facilities in Zurich Airport's Terminal E. The two events usher in a new era for SWISS, in the air and on the ground, under its "Next-Generation Airline of Switzerland" strategy.
 
The Boeing 777-300ER has state-of-the-art technology. It offers maximum reliability, a very high level of comfort in the cabin, and has space for over 330 seats. It can also save 23% in fuel and CO2 emissions per seat in comparison with the A340-300.
 
With five sister aircraft to follow by August 2016, and then three more during 2017-18, the long-range Boeings will replace Swiss' older gas-guzzling Airbus A340s, and will be used exclusively on routes to Hong Kong, Bangkok and Los Angeles, plus some flights to San Francisco, São Paulo and Tel Aviv.

The Boeing 777-300ER features all-new First Class suites and Business Class seats shaped by leading design house PriestmanGoode as a natural evolution of Swiss' award-winning cabins – but with more space, more storage and greater privacy.
 
The colour palette throughout the cabin has been updated to richer, more sophisticated tones, while keeping very much on-brand for that unmistakeable Swiss look and feel – even in the entrance to the Boeing 777-300ER- effectively it is like a five-star hotel in the sky.
 
"We took inspiration from Switzerland’s design and craft heritage, as well as Swiss’ own brand identity, including the airline’s headquarters and flagship lounges in Zurich" says Nigel Goode, Co-Founding Director of PriestmanGoode. "The resulting cabins are luxurious, elegant and timeless with a lightness of touch, precise craftsmanship and attention to detail that embody the Swiss brand.”
 
All passengers will have access to a new satellite Internet service, with prices ranging from 9 Swiss Francs (A$12.60) for 20MB through to 39 Swiss Francs (A$54.60) for 120MB. Swiss will also allow calls to be made direct from your smartphone using special 'pico-cells' fitted to the aircraft which mimic the mobile network your phone would see on the ground. ​

​On January 28, Cathay Pacific announced that DragonAir will cease to exist, instead the sister airline to Cathay Pacific will be re-branded as Cathay Dragon.
 
In a press release, Cathay Pacific’s Chief Executive Ivan Chu said: “We are very proud of what we have achieved together. Cathay Dragon is a brand that will be recognisably part of the Cathay Pacific Group for our customers from different parts of the world. The rebranding will enable us to capture the fast-growing passenger flows across the two carriers by creating a more seamless travel experience. “
 
He continued: “We are building on what is a true Hong Kong success story that has made our city a leading international aviation hub and gateway to and from Mainland China markets. This rebranding will sharpen our competitive edge by offering an attractive Cathay-led brand package that carries the assurance of a consistently high-quality customer experience.”
 
However, the airline also announced the two airlines won’t be merged, but will instead be continuing to operate as two separate carriers, with just the name and brand changing rather than the operation. Cathay Dragon has adopted the new livery design of Cathay Pacific, whilst turning the blue and green areas to red.
 
“We see this a real Hong Kong success story, and we aim to ensure the success continues. Through this rebranding, we will make it much clearer to customers that they are flying on a member of the Cathay Pacific Group, and we have created a new look for Cathay Dragon that clearly identifies it as a Group airline.”
 
Ivan went on to say: “There are two main reasons behind this rebranding, the first being a desire to capitalise on Cathay Pacific’s strong international brand recognition. The second driver is to leverage on Cathay Dragon’s unique connectivity into Mainland China.” It’s fair to expect little difference to the cabin products, as there is already a strong synergy between the two carriers.
 
Chief Executive Officer Algernon Yau said: “We can assure our customers that Cathay Dragon will continue to provide the same high level of products and services that made us a four-time winner of the World’s Best Regional Airline award. We will have the same dedicated team continuing to offer their friendly and caring service style. We will also continue to build on our experience and understanding of what our passengers like and treasure, such as speciality Chinese and Asian dishes as well as popular local Hong Kong snacks.”

My own thoughts are that it sounded better as DragonAir. The Cathay Dragon doesn't really have a kick to it, and doesn't come across as a catchy name (whereas Cathay Pacific is). Many observers have also commented that the new branding has a striking resemblance to the branding of Turkish Airlines, Swiss and Qantas Airways.

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Garuda Indonesia, the national flag carrier of Indonesia, has appointed JPA Design, an International transport design specialist, to create the interiors of its new aircraft cabins. This is the same agency that provided the design consultancy for Singapore’s new Premium Economy Class cabins. The airline has expanded its fleet and builds on its reputation as a world-class carrier. In recent years, many airlines from Indonesia have sadly gained themselves a reputation for having a very bad safety record. However, the Indonesian national flag carrier's senior management have worked very hard to uplift its branding image and improve itself. The airline is an official 5-star carrier, and has recently won a number of awards for excellent customer service on and off the plane.

Garuda’s new aircraft orders modernizes its fleet and will support additional short, medium haul flights and routes. JPA Design’s new cabin interiors for both Business and Economy class will feature on 50 new 737 MAX aircraft, scheduled for first delivery in 2017 and will be retrofitted to Garuda’s existing long-haul wide body Airbus A330-300 fleet.
Garuda’s intention is to progressively re-brand all its aircraft interiors – both narrow and wide body – in order to achieve consistency across its entire fleet.

Nicodemus P. Lampe, Director of Services at Garuda Indonesia, commented, “Strong competition was forcing airlines to innovate their product gradually and we are pleased to work together with JPA Design on creating the next generation of our Business and Economy aircraft cabin interiors. As Garuda Indonesia continuously strives on its ongoing service enhancement program to provide its passengers with the best possible full-service air travel experience, we need to collaborate with industry members that share the same vision regarding service excellence, particularly in terms of reliability and quality.”

JPA Design’s interior scheme – yet to be revealed – will be aligned to the airlines brand drivers as defined by branding specialists Landor Associates; Garuda’s new look Business Class: “an experience of accessible luxury that is energetic, authentic and dynamic.” Economy is defined as “an uplifting experience that is dynamic, positive and warm.”

Tim Manson, Design Director at JPA Design, said; “Competition is getting tougher and passengers now expect more out of their flying experience. For an airline to successfully compete against the worlds’ best, you need to provide an element of surprise and luxury and ensure that you give those discerning customers an unforgettable travel experience.”
​
On working with Garuda, Manson went on to say; “Being selected to work with an airline that has such keen ambition and one that places passenger comfort and joy at the heart of all they do, is a great opportunity for JPA Design. We both share in the commitment to constantly innovative and strive for best in class solutions. To be design partners with Garuda Indonesia, the third airline we have worked with that is a member of the exclusive 5-Star Airline Award, is a real honour.”

Japan’s largest airline, All Nippon Airways (ANA), proudly shuttled the whole cast and crew of the latest Star Wars movie, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, from the World Premiere in Los Angeles (namely Hollywood) to the London Premiere in its custom R2-D2™ ANA JET, a Boeing 787-9.
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Starting at the Premiere on Monday 14th December, ANA laid out a large scale model of their 777 Star Wars Jet which was signed by the stars of the franchise. The scale model was modelled after the BB-8™ ANA JET took to the red carpet. The jet is another aircraft decorated with special livery featuring BB-8, the new Star Wars droid introduced in the film. The jet is a Boeing 777-300ER and is scheduled to begin its service on international routes from March 2016, principally between North America and Japan.

“ANA is proud to be part of the global celebration for Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” said Osamu Shinobe, President and CEO of ANA. “As we fly passengers to Japan and across the world, we aim to provide our guests with the magic and joy that these films spark.

As the first aircraft to be decorated with Star Wars livery, there was no question that the R2-D2 ANA Jet was chosen to fly between the U.S. and U.K. premieres of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”

Following the World Premiere of Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens in Hollywood, the film’s stars including Harrison Ford and newcomers Daisy Ridley and John Boyega (both proud Londoners!), the director of The Force Awakens J.J. Abrams, and producer and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, flew on the chartered flight from Los Angeles to London. The flight number of the trip was NH 1977, in honor of the first Star Wars film release in 1977, and the callsign of the flight was "All Nippon 1977 heavy".
​
The R2-D2 ANA Jet is the first ever aircraft in the world to feature a Star Wars character on its exterior and is a product of an agreement between ANA and The Walt Disney Company (Japan) Ltd. First unveiled at the Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, Calif., earlier this year, the R2-D2™ ANA JET, a Boeing 787-9, started its regular flight in October and now flies to various destinations, including Europe, Asia, China and the U.S.

On December 14, 2015, Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH), a leading provider of information technology, consulting, and business process outsourcing services, announced a strategic agreement to drive digital transformation across the airline and its equity partners. The agreement was signed between Dr John Burgin, Head of Cognizant Digital Works, APAC and Middle East and Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways' Chief Commercial Officer.

Under the three-year, multi-million dollar deal, Cognizant will help Etihad Airways define its digital strategy and reimagine the guest experience along a guest’s travel journey across the group. By bringing together its digital strategy, technology, industry and experiential design expertise, Cognizant will conduct a comprehensive study of Etihad Airways’ current business and technology footprint to outline and operationalise a best-in-class digital ecosystem, enabling multi-channel distribution, customer persona segmentation and personalised marketing techniques.

Through data and customer insights, Cognizant will enable Etihad Airways, and subsequently its equity partners, to better understand the needs of their guests. Combining this research with streamlined best practices, processes and technology, the airline will provide guests with customised offerings, tailored travel solutions, and enhanced experiences throughout their journey based on their loyalty status and personal preferences such as product and service features, preferred seating, meal choices, holiday destinations and more. For the airline, this means unlocking new revenue streams, enhancing its brand and building new commercial models.

​Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “Our guests are increasingly turning to digital channels to connect with us, and therefore we recognise the importance of delivering a personalised and seamless guest experience across all touch-points. Our partnership with Cognizant will help us define a superior digital experience roadmap that enhances the customer journey from planning to booking, in the airport and on the plane, and improve guest loyalty by attracting and engaging with guests in new and innovative ways. The scope includes digital tools and data insights for our customer-facing staff to further enhance their ability to provide a more customised and personalised service to our guests.”

Robert Webb, Etihad Airways’ Chief Information and Technology Officer, said: “This partnership is core to our technology and innovation strategy, which will empower us and our equity partners to redefine an exceptional digital guest experience that matches our remarkable inflight and on-ground experience. We chose Cognizant because of its leadership in digital transformation programmes, deep travel and hospitality industry experience, and long-term partnerships with digital technology leaders.”

Francisco D’Souza, Chief Executive Officer, Cognizant, said: “We are pleased to partner with Etihad Airways to create a world-class airline guest experience by harnessing the power of digital technologies. For Cognizant, ‘digital’ means the ability to connect technology, data science, devices, design, and business strategy to transform processes and experiences. This engagement marks the coming together of two pioneering organisations whose growth strategy is underpinned by digital innovation. The Cognizant Digital Works team looks forward to helping Etihad Airways and its equity partners deliver control, simplicity and transparency to the modern connected traveller. The digital initiative will further strengthen Etihad Airways’ leadership position as a premium brand known for high-touch customer service.”

As part of the engagement, Cognizant will manage Etihad Airways’ existing web applications and portals and integrate them into the new digital platform. A new Digital Centre of Excellence will be established to drive innovation with the airline’s key technology partners.

Cathay Pacific Airways, the airline of Hong Kong, have announced a 10% increase in their flights between the UK and Hong Kong, showcasing a high demand for the popular long-haul city pair. Currently, the airline, which is one of founding members of the Oneworld Alliance, flies only to London Heathrow and Manchester in the U.K. However, with this move, a total of 43 flights a week between the UK and Hong Kong will be enabled, with the introduction of a new four-times-weekly service to London’s Gatwick Airport, starting from 2 September, 2016. The carrier stopped flying to Gatwick back in 1993, and it would be great news for the airline to start flying from London's southern airport. Gatwick usually hosts North American and European carriers (including charter flights), but in recent years, the airport has started hosting the likes of Emirates, Turkish, Iraqi Airways and Air China to name a few. The addition of Cathay Pacific Airways to Gatwick's list of airlines will give the airport an even more international feel to it.

​At the time of writing, the new route is still subject to government approval. The new service will complement the airline’s current five-times-daily service to Heathrow Airport for a total of 39 flights a week between Hong Kong and London – more than any other carrier on this competitive route (British Airways and Virgin operate the other non-stop flights on the route). In addition to serving London, Cathay Pacific also offers a four-times-weekly service between Hong Kong and Manchester in the United Kingdom, catering for the large Chinese diaspora that lives in Manchester and the surrounding northern British cities.

Cathay Pacific plan to operate the Gatwick service with its brand new Airbus A350-900 aircraft, which will eventually feature the ‘yet to be revealed’ refreshed Business Class cabin, as well as a spanking new Premium Economy Class and Economy Class cabin. When it does so, Cathay will become the first A350 operator into Gatwick. The aircraft will feature the airline’s much needed refreshed livery design (please click here to check it out!)

Want to know what's it like to fly with Cathay Pacific? Check these flight reviews that I wrote:

Doha-Hong Kong (Airbus A330, Business Class) 

London Heathrow - Hong Kong (Boeing 747-400, Premium Economy Class) 

Hong Kong - London Heathrow (Boeing 777-300ER, Business Class) 

Various flights with Dragonair (all Business Class)  - Dragonair is part of the Cathay Pacific Group

On the 5th of December, Alitalia, the national flag carrier of Italy, welcomed its first new medium-haul interior to match the new brand style introduced in the airline’s long-haul cabins. This commences the major cabin refurbishment project of Alitalia’s short and medium fleet of 96 aircraft, and is scheduled to be completed by April 2016.
 
The project will commence with four aircraft to be retrofitted per week, which will match the airline’s plans to repaint each of the aircraft in the new livery that was launched in June this year. The refurbishment work on each aircraft will take around five days from start to finish, and more than 14,000 black leather seats, complete with elegant beige stitching, will be fitted on board the Alitalia aircraft. Taking design cues from their new Airbus A330 aircraft interiors, each seat will have new coloured headrests – beige for Business Class and red for Economy Class. Every plane will be fitted with new ‘wood effect’ bulkheads which will feature the brand new distinctive Alitalia logo.
 
“The aim is give a greater feel of Italian style and quality on board the aircraft that will hopefully attract new customers and retain existing ones.” Marco Martinasso, Alitalia’s Vice President of Marketing said. “We have shifted from a typically technical type of refurbishment which relied more on functionality, airworthiness and acceptable aesthetics to a new focus on customers and higher levels of service. We want our customers to experience a higher degree of comfort by providing a much better standard of cabin.”

Earlier this year, Alitalia unveiled a revamped brand livery at a lavish ceremony, with the first Airbus A330 rolled out in the new colors (video below).
​

​Singapore Airlines has just unveiled what seems to be one of the most most breathtaking digital-ad videos this year by an airline company. The video, which is available on YouTube, showcases how paper model artist Luca Iaconi-Stewart has created a replica of the Singapore Airlines suite of seating products. Luca claimed global fame earlier this year when he showed off his Air India Boeing 777 1:60 scale model made purely of Manila paper (complete with retractable landing gear) which was created in precise detail. In a similar fashion, in this video, Luca painstaking creates the suite with immaculate detail.
 
It seems Singapore Airlines has commissioned the artist to showcase the effort that goes into creating every real-life SIA aircraft in the fleet, and the results speak for themselves. 

LONDON (U.K.)– At the Customer Engagement Summit held in London on 26 November, Sibel Yaman Kavuklu, the brand marketing manager for Turkey’s Pegasus Airlines', highlighted Pegasus’ strategy to build on its unrivalled position to become a complete travel brand.
 
Pegasus Airlines, Turkey’s leading, and one of Europe’s fastest growing, low-cost carriers joined a number of other high-profile global brands presented at the summit, including Unilever, Virgin Media, Yahoo, HSBC and Travelodge among others, as Sibel presented her case study entitled 'Understanding context and consumer behaviour to enhance your offer throughout the customer journey'.
 
Sibel explained how Pegasus leverages extensive consumer insights and context to deliver relevant offers and products with a ‘feel good’ factor, and how the airline focuses not only on the product, but also on the consumer to become a strong full-service travel brand that provides the full range of travel services to its passengers.
 
Sibel explained how insights were derived from various sources, including from focus groups, ‘mystery passenger’ research survey results, and results from social media, to cater their offering to best match the different needs and wants of the various segments of their travellers.
 
“The focus has been on adding the ‘Feel Good Factor’ to Pegasus services to delight our guests” said Sibel, describing how the airline has pioneered with initiatives, such as producing much-loved safety demos appealing to all ages with its latest video featuring Marvel characters - enjoyed by almost seven million viewers around the globe. 
 
“We’ve also collaborated with a famous Turkish chef to diversify the products on the Pegasus Café Menu, and integrated our CRM systems to be able to surprise children with an on-board cake and an announcement when they fly on the week of their birthday. These are just some of the ways that Pegasus has focused on giving its guests an experience beyond being carried from one place to the other to ensure they’re touched at every step of their journey which has certainly helped us with our strong growth levels reaching 13.7% growth in passenger numbers in the first nine months of this year compared to the previous year.” Said Sibel.

Dubai based Emirates Airline recently announced that all new Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A380 aircraft will be outfitted with enhanced IFE screens and technology, allowing passengers to flick through an amazing 4,300 hours of entertainment.
 
That is virtually half-a-year non-stop of watching a TV, meaning it is practically impossible to watch the whole entertainment offering, even if you are their most frequent Emirates flier. Passengers in Economy and First Class will have enhanced screen sizes, with those travelling in First Class enjoying “a more immersive viewing experience to look forward to” with IFE screens increased from 27 to 32 inches. The airline says that the 40 percent increase in screen size makes it the largest PTV seat screen available on any commercial aircraft in the world.
 
Whilst the Business Class screen hasn’t been increased in size, at 23″ it’s still comparable to some of the largest screens available, that other airline companies can only dream of providing. Other new features on the Emirates Information Communication Entertainment (ICE) system includes enhanced handset controllers, USB ports and PC power outlets on all seats, across the three cabin classes. This is designed to allow passengers to charge their own mobile phones and portable devices. Passengers in First Class are also about to enjoy increased comfort, with product enhancements including new “micro fibre optic carpet” in the First Class cabin, which has been designed to help to reduce the effects of jet lag, and private suites in the centre aisle have been widened by almost two inches.
 
“We continually upgrade our fleet, as well as our products and services on board to ensure an unparalleled travel experience. In addition to the technology, Emirates also puts emphasis on curating our award-winning inflight entertainment system and we always aim to surpass industry benchmarks. Our new generation ice system elevates the viewing experience, and offers passengers the most comprehensive movie and TV selection on any airline.” Said Patrick Brannelly, Emirates’ Divisional Vice President of Customer Experience.
 
With three times the media storage on the new IFE system, the Emirates ICE digital widescreen now has over 2,186 channels of on-demand entertainment and over 1,230 music channels, which amounts to about 4,300 hours of entertainment. This includes over 50 full TV box sets and close to 600 movies. Reflecting Emirates’ global and diverse customer base, the enhanced system also features a multilingual interface in 14 languages. No other airline in the world offers such a wide selection of in-flight entertainment.
 
This year, Emirates, won the Skytrax Awards for ‘World’s Best Airline Inflight Entertainment’, for the eleventh year in a row, meaning if it is entertainment you seek, it seems the leader in the field plans to keep its crown!

Emirates has launched a major new global digital marketing campaign starring Jennifer Aniston. The digital ad, created by RKCR/Y&R as part of WPP’s Team Air, went live on Monday the 5th October in the US and will go globally, including the UK, from November. Editorial copywriting by the prolific Jonathan Thake.

Meanwhile, Etihad Airways, the national flag carrier of the UAE, has also launched a digital campaign to rival the Emirates one, starring Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman. However, the Etihad advert is only available on their website, and not on any social media platform (except shared through Facebook by their fans/customers)...hence why they've had a lower click rate compared to the Emirates advert. Like Emirates has done, I think Etihad should have asked all of their staff and PR agencies to dish out the advert globally everywhere.

​British Airways is the national flag carrier of the United Kingdom, and operates full international and domestic scheduled air services for the carriage of passengers, freight and mail and the provision of ancillary services. British Airways operates to 183 destinations around the world with a fleet of 292 aircraft. British Airways are one of the world’s leading scheduled premium international airlines. Their main principal place of business is Heathrow, one of the world’s premier airport locations, which serves a large geographical area with a comparatively high proportion of point-to-point business. Operating one of the most extensive international scheduled airline route networks, together with our codeshare and franchise partners, British Airways flies to more than 300 destinations worldwide.

Route: Geneva International Airport to London Heathrow 

Departure date and time of flight: 17:25 on August 28, 2015

Flight Number: BA733

Flight duration: One hour and 30 minutes (Includes a 20 minutes hold over Biggin Hill)

Cabin: Euro Traveller (Economy Class)

Aircraft type: Airbus A319 (44 in service)

Punctuality of the flight:
 
The flight departed on time from Geneva International, but (as always) had to hold for around 20 minutes over Biggin Hill in the South East of London before landing on runway 27 Left at Heathrow Airport. The evening view of London is amazing. Clear views of the traffic jams on the M25, as well as Canary Wharf and other landmarks look stunning. I managed to capture a lovely shot of Biggin Hill as we circled the airport in South East London. Heathrow is such a busy airport that flights have to stack up at four main points around London- Biggin Hill (SE London), Lambourne (NE London), Bovingdon (NW London) or Ockham (SW London).   

Any baggage issues:
 
No issues- the bags arrived on time and in one piece.

Comments on the check-in:

This was my first time I had travelled through Geneva Airport since 2009. In those days I used to fly every week between London and Geneva because of my job. No issues at check-in. Geneva Airport still looks the same and nothing has changed in all these years. Everything went perfectly smoothly at Geneva Airport. Just like the rest of the Swiss culture- everything is on time and in an orderly manner. No hustle and bustle.

Comments regarding the pre-meal service:

Choice of drinks (standard- tea, coffee, orange juice, apple juice, lemonade or coca cola), and wine.

Comments regarding the first meal:

Just cold sandwiches and rolls were offered for this very short-haul flight.

Comments regarding the drinks service:

A second round of drinks were offered after the snacks.

Comments regarding the in-flight snacks (if any):

None
Comments regarding the second meal (if any):

None

Comments on the in-flight system (if any):

None

Comments of professionalism of the cabin crew:

The cabin crew were very professional and polite. Just a normal flight, without any incidents.

Improvements that could be made:

This was a great flight, and on such a short flight, it is difficult to find any faults. Everything was just fine.

Comments on the interior of the aircraft (including seat comfort): 

The Airbus A319 is part of the A320 series of aircraft are used by British Airways for their short to medium haul routes within Europe. The aircraft is used from both Gatwick and Heathrow. The interior is a standard 3-3 for Economy and 2-2 configuration for Business Class passengers. The Business and Economy Class seats are all leather in navy blue colour (typical of the signature for British Airways).

Overall rating 1-10 (worst-best):10

​British Airways is the national flag carrier of the United Kingdom, and operates full international and domestic scheduled air services for the carriage of passengers, freight and mail and the provision of ancillary services. British Airways operates to 183 destinations around the world with a fleet of 292 aircraft. British Airways are one of the world’s leading scheduled premium international airlines. Their main principal place of business is Heathrow, one of the world’s premier airport locations, which serves a large geographical area with a comparatively high proportion of point-to-point business. Operating one of the most extensive international scheduled airline route networks, together with our codeshare and franchise partners, British Airways flies to more than 300 destinations worldwide.

Route: London Heathrow International Airport to Geneva International Airport

Departure date and time of flight: 07:05 on August 27, 2015

Flight Number: BA730

Flight duration: One hour and 30 minutes

Cabin: Euro Traveller (Economy Class)

Aircraft type: Airbus A319 (44 in service)

Punctuality of the flight:
 
The flight departed around 30 minutes late from Heathrow Airport’s runway 27 left due to heavy morning traffic waiting to depart. Just after take-off from Heathrow, and as we turned left to head towards the English coast, we were greeted with a wonderful view of Farnborough Airfield from around 4,000 feet. Even more stunning was the view of Mount Blanc and the countryside around Lake Genève as we approached Geneva.

Any baggage issues:
 
No issues- the bags arrived on time and in one piece.

Comments on the check-in:

This was my first time I had travelled to Geneva since 2009. In those days I used to fly every week between London and Geneva because of my job. No issues at check-in at Heathrow Terminal 5, which is dedicated for British Airways flights. The morning flight was delayed due to heavy showers and the morning rush-hour at Heathrow.

Comments regarding the pre-meal service:

Choice of drinks (standard- tea, coffee, orange juice, apple juice, lemonade or coca cola), and wine.

Comments regarding the first meal:

Lemon flavoured biscuits by Island Bakery and nuts and dried fruit by Forest Feast.

Comments regarding the drinks service:

A second round of drinks were offered after the snacks.

Comments regarding the in-flight snacks (if any):

None

Comments regarding the second meal (if any):

None

Comments on the in-flight system (if any):

None

Comments of professionalism of the cabin crew:

The cabin crew were very professional and polite. Just a normal flight, without any incidents.

Improvements that could be made:

This was a great flight, and on such a short flight, it is difficult to find any faults. Everything was just fine.

Comments on the interior of the aircraft (including seat comfort): 

The Airbus A319 is part of the A320 series of aircraft are used by British Airways for their short to medium haul routes within Europe. The aircraft is used from both Gatwick and Heathrow. The interior is a standard 3-3 for Economy and 2-2 configuration for Business Class passengers. The Business and Economy Class seats are all leather in navy blue colour (typical of the signature for British Airways).

Overall rating 1-10 (worst-best): 10

Oman Air is the flagship carrier of the Sultanate of Oman and an Official 4 Star Airline (Skytrax 2011). Founded in 1993, the airline has since witnessed massive growth and has played a major role in making Muscat an important traffic hub in the Middle East, supporting the commercial, industrial and tourism sectors.
 
Currently Oman Air’s fleet consists of two Boeing 787 Dreamliners, six Airbus 330-300s, four Airbus 330-200s, five Boeing 737-900s, 18 Boeing 737-800, one Boeing 737-700, four Embraer 175s and an ATR 42. Four more Dreamliners will join the fleet in the following years. By 2018, Oman Air’s total fleet size is expected to be around 57 aircraft, rising to 70 aircraft by 2020.
 
Oman Air scooped four awards at the Oman Airports Management Company Second Annual Awards ceremony, on February 2015. The national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman was recognized as one of the top five airlines by number of passengers carried at Muscat International Airport. It also received an award as one of the top three airlines at Salalah International Airport, as well as receiving accolades in the Non-Aeronautical and Stakeholder of the Year 2014 categories.
 
Oman Air won two awards at the World Travel Awards Middle East 2015, where the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman came top in the ‘Middle East's Leading Airline - Business Class’ and ‘Middle East's Leading Airline - Economy Class’ categories. Oman Air was also named as the winner of the ’Best Airline Staff Service in the Middle East’ award at the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2015.
 
I tried and tested the Business Class seat on this short-haul flight from Muscat International Airport to London Heathrow Airport on the Airbus A330-343X aircraft.
 
Route: MUSCAT (MCT) to LONDON HEATHROW (LHR)

Departure date and time of flight: August 2015, 14:00

Flight number: WY101 (Oman 101 heavy)
 
ATC Callsign: Oman

Flight duration: 6 Hours 55 minutes

Class: BUSINESS CLASS

Aircraft type: AIRBUS A330-343X (six aircraft of this type in service)
 
Aircraft registration: A4O-DB
 
Aircraft Serial Number: 10044
 
First flight: 10th September 2009
 
Aircraft delivery date: 2nd October 2009
 
Aircraft engine types: Two x RR Trent 772B-60
 
Frequent flyer programme:
 
Sinbad is the official frequent flyer program. Click here to see more.
 
Seat configuration for this aircraft:
 
First Class: Six suites (1-1-1-1 configuration)
Business Class: 20 flatbed seats with 180 recline in a 1-1-1-1 configuration
Economy Class: 202 seats in a 2-4-2 configuration
 
Punctuality of the flight/route taken:
 
The fully booked flight left Muscat on time and landed on time at London Heathrow, with around 10 minutes ahead of schedule of the arrival time.

Any baggage issues:
 
My bags had been checked in at Kathmandu Airport, so there were no issues at Muscat.
 
Lounge experience at Muscat Airport:
 
Business and First Class passengers flying with Oman Air can use the lounge at Muscat Airport, located after security. The first thought is that the lounge is almost empty with hardly a whisker in sight! It is definitely much more relaxed and quieter than what you may see in Doha, Dubai or Abu Dhabi, and much more of a relaxing experience. The airport is generally quieter as well, which is a good thing- less crowds!
 
In-flight magazine: Wings of Oman is the in-flight magazine. Click here to read online PDF copies.
 
Comments regarding the pre-flight service:
 
Passengers’ in Business Class are offered hot lemon scented towels prior to departure. This is followed by a drinks service, which consists of some of the world’s finest wines, and champagne. In Business Class, the cabin crew offer various kinds of drinks prior to departure:
 

• Fresh orange juice
• Mineral water
• Billecart-Salmon Brut Champagne (founded in 1818)

 
I opted for the orange juice on this occasion.
 
Comments regarding the pre-meal service:
 
Around about 45 minutes after departure, drinks were served from the trolley.
 
Comments regarding the first meal:
 
Starters with salad of mixed leaves and crisp vegetables
 
For the main course, I opted for the flavours from the Sultanate: Pan-seared kingfish kebab with herb butter sauce, roasted wedges and char-grilled lemon. Very delicious.
 
Accompanying the main dish was a bowl of fresh seasonal fruit, and a selection of warm bread from the basket.
 
For dessert, there was homemade apple and blueberry pie, cinnamon sauce, chilled sauce.
 
Comments regarding the second meal:
 
The afternoon tea plate consisted of:
 

• Smoked salmon and egg multi grain roll
• Chef's chocolate gateau
• Mini chicken kebab in braised red pepper Juliene

 
The afternoon tea was served with a selection of teas, provided by Twinnings and Dilmah.
 
Comments on the in-flight entertainment system:

Oman Air offers a variety of in-flight entertainment options, including video, audio and TV. Please click here to see more. On my flight, the IFE system did not work at all, which obviously was disappointing. However, it didn’t really matter much as it was a short flight. It would have been nice if the interactive map was working so that I could see where I was flying over but this was not working. No big deal. Otherwise, the flight experience was good.
 
Oman Air’s Airbus A330-300 features 20 Business Class seats designed by BE Aerospace. Fitted in a 1-1-1-1 configuration, each comfortable and spacious 22-inch wide seat converts to a 77-82 inch long, fully flat bed.
 
With electrically-operated backrest, seat bottom, seat depth and leg rest controls, and a folding armrest, each customer remains in control of their own environment for the duration of their flight. Furthermore, one-piece meal table and cocktail table offer a range of dining options, whilst an integrated reading light and mood light controls enable customers to work, read or relax, according to their wishes.
 
A literature pocket, headset compartment, life vest compartment and ample storage space keep each passenger’s space neat. Access to the aircraft’s leading edge Thales AVANT in-seat audio video on demand (AVOD) inflight entertainment system is through a huge 17-inch monitor and easy-to-use touch screen handset. The system offers a wide range of movies, music, games and information. Charging devices and extended use of laptops is supported by each seat’s universal power outlet and two USB ports.
 
And, having pioneered complete inflight mobile phone (GSM) and Wi-Fi connectivity in 2010, Oman Air has now raised the bar further by introducing the latest Airbus ALNA system for on-board WiFi and mobile phone usage.
 
To complement this outstanding comfort and amenity, Oman Air has fitted the same Thales AVANT in-seat audio video on demand (AVOD) system in this short and medium haul aircraft as it has in its new long haul A330s.
 
Both the Oman Air’s new Airbus A330-300s and new Boeing B737s feature seats newly-designed by Zodiac Aerospace. Each offers exceptional comfort and features a one-piece composite seat back structure, a high seat back pivot and articulating bottom pan and a four-way adjustable headrest.
 
Seat pitches reflect the length of flights each aircraft are deployed upon, with the A330’s 202 seats offering 32 inches and the 737-900ER’s 171 seats offering 30 inches. A folding aisle-side armrest offers increased ease of access, and a sturdy, bi-fold, sliding food table makes a pleasure of in-seat dining or working.
 
Meanwhile, the 10.6-inch seatback LCD screen offers access to the same IFE options as those enjoyed in Business Class. A USB is mounted on the LCD screen that can be used to charge any mobile smart phone and each pair of seats shares a PC power port.
 
Comments of professionalism of the cabin crew:

The cabin crew appear to have been trained very well, and seem to know how to handle all kinds of situations. The trainers must have had everything thrown at them, ranging from rowdy passengers to those having a nervous breakdown. These people are amazing. They really do pamper you. Most of the cabin crew are not natives of Oman itself, but are from South Asia or Asian countries in general (Philippines, Thailand, India, China etc.).

Comments on the interior of the aircraft (including seat comfort): 
 
Oman Air’s Airbus A330-300 features 20 Business Class seats designed by BE Aerospace. Fitted in a 1-1-1-1 configuration, each comfortable and spacious 22-inch wide seat converts to a 77-82 inch long, fully flat bed. The Business Class seat looks and feels like a double bed! It is bigger than even some of the First Class seats I have seen on other airlines.
 
There is certainly plenty of space available. I had my camera bag (which is annoyingly big), plus my laptop (I seldom have to sleep on a daytime flight so I end up working!), AND my carrier bag. All of these were neatly stored before departure. Oh, there is also space for you to put your shoes during the long flight so you can sit like as if you are sitting on your sofa at home. There were plenty of in-flight magazines and newspapers (both Arabic and Western) for passengers.

A luxury amenity kit was provided on this flight by luxury brand Amouage.
 
Oman Air logo and livery: 
 
In 2008, Oman Air completely overhauled its livery, switching its base colour from red to turquoise blue and ditching the traditional khanjar dagger symbol in favour of a logo representing incense smoke. Oman Air chief executive Ziad Al-Haremi at the time unveiled the new livery at a ceremony in Muscat. The new identity follows the Omani Government’s decision to withdraw from Gulf Air and concentrate on developing Oman Air as the sultanate’s sole flag-carrier. The livery features a gold-and-silver swirl which is reminiscent of a swirl of smoke from the aromatic resin frankincense for which Oman is particularly renowned.
 
The turquoise colour represents the expanse of both the sky and the sea while the gold and silver colours stand for Oman’s wealth and silver artefacts – including the curved khanjar dagger, the national symbol which Oman Air’s livery previously featured.

Oman Air is the flagship carrier of the Sultanate of Oman and an Official 4 Star Airline (Skytrax 2011). Founded in 1993, the airline has since witnessed massive growth and has played a major role in making Muscat an important traffic hub in the Middle East, supporting the commercial, industrial and tourism sectors.
 
Currently Oman Air’s fleet consists of two Boeing 787 Dreamliners, six Airbus 330-300s, four Airbus 330-200s, five Boeing 737-900s, 18 Boeing 737-800, one Boeing 737-700, four Embraer 175s and an ATR 42. Four more Dreamliners will join the fleet in the following years. By 2018, Oman Air’s total fleet size is expected to be around 57 aircraft, rising to 70 aircraft by 2020.
 
Oman Air scooped four awards at the Oman Airports Management Company Second Annual Awards ceremony, on February 2015. The national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman was recognized as one of the top five airlines by number of passengers carried at Muscat International Airport. It also received an award as one of the top three airlines at Salalah International Airport, as well as receiving accolades in the Non-Aeronautical and Stakeholder of the Year 2014 categories.
 
Oman Air won two awards at the World Travel Awards Middle East 2015, where the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman came top in the ‘Middle East's Leading Airline - Business Class’ and ‘Middle East's Leading Airline - Economy Class’ categories. Oman Air was also named as the winner of the ’Best Airline Staff Service in the Middle East’ award at the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2015.
 
I tried and tested the regional Business Class seat on this short-haul flight from Kathmandu International Airport to Muscat International Airport on the Boeing 737-800NG aircraft.
 
Route: KATHMANDU (KTM) to MUSCAT (MCT)

Departure date and time of flight: August 2015, 09:30

Flight number: WY332 (Oman 332)
 
ATC Callsign: Oman

Flight duration: 3 Hours 50 minutes

Class: BUSINESS CLASS

Aircraft type: BOEING 737-81MNG (17 aircraft of this type in service)
 
Aircraft registration: A4O-BV
 
Aircraft Serial Number: 40068/LN:5160
 
First flight: 30th October 2014
 
Aircraft delivery date: 21st November 2014
 
Aircraft engine types: Two x CFMI CFM56-7B26E
 
Frequent flyer programme:
 
Sinbad is the official frequent flyer program. Click here to see more.
 
Seat configuration for this aircraft:
 
Business Class: 12 angle flat seats in a 2-2 configuration
Economy Class: 150 seats in a 3-3 configuration
 
Punctuality of the flight/route taken:
 
This early morning flight departed from Kathmandu on time and landed on time on a ridiculously hot morning in Muscat. After departing Kathmandu, the flight made its way towards India, while providing stunning views of the Himalayas, and then went right over New Delhi- the closest I have got to being on Indian soil in 16 years…albeit from 40,000 feet. Then we went over Pakistan, leaving Karachi before making a straight in approach into Muscat.

Any baggage issues:
 
Unlike in most other countries where friends and/or relatives can go inside the terminal up to the security check point, at Kathmandu Airport, only passengers are allowed to go inside the terminal building. It is somewhat a pleasant experience because the terminal is not so crowded, and therefore the check-in process is quite an effortless and smooth affair. After checking in on the ground floor. The process from check-in to the lounge through the security takes around about 15 minutes.
 
Lounge experience at Kathmandu Airport:
 
Business and First Class passengers flying with Oman Air can use the lounge at Kathmandu Airport, located after security. On this instance, I was the only passenger in the lounge. There are plenty of options for food and beverages, and majority of the entertainment (TV and reading material) is either in Nepalese, English or Hindi (and most of it is either from India or Nepal). The lounge is a communal lounge that is shared by many airlines.
 
In-flight magazine: Wings of Oman is the in-flight magazine. Click here to read online PDF copies.
 
Comments regarding the pre-flight service:
 
Passengers’ in Business Class are offered hot lemon scented towels prior to departure. This is followed by a drinks service, which consists of some of the world’s finest wines, and champagne. In Business Class, the cabin crew offer various kinds of drinks prior to departure:

• Fresh orange juice
• Mineral water
• Billecart-Salmon Brut Champagne (founded in 1818)

 
I opted for the orange juice on this occasion. The welcome drink was served with fresh dates from Oman, and warm and sticky nuts.
 
Comments regarding the pre-meal service:
 
Around about 35 minutes after departure, drinks were served from the trolley, including freshly brewed coffee and also tea as well.
 
Comments regarding the breakfast meal:
  
I opted for a Western breakfast meal, which was ‘tomato and sautéed onion omelette red pepper sauce roasted wedges chicken sausage glazed asparagus’.
 
After the breakfast, standard tea and coffee with biscuits was served in bone china cutlery.  
 
Comments on the in-flight entertainment system:

Oman Air offers a variety of in-flight entertainment options, including video, audio and TV. Please click here to see more. On my flight, the IFE system did not work at all, which obviously was disappointing. However, it didn’t really matter much as it was a short flight. It would have been nice if the interactive map was working so that I could see where I was flying over but this was not working. No big deal. Otherwise, the flight experience was good.
 
The Oman Air Boeing B737-800NG cabin offers 12 Recaro-designed Business Class seats in a 2-2 configuration. Each seat features electric backrest/seat bottom, leg rest and seat depth controls, a 10.6-inch in-arm video screen, PC power outlet, USB port, reading light and literature pocket.
 
To complement this outstanding comfort and amenity, Oman Air has fitted the same Thales AVANT in-seat audio video on demand (AVOD) system in this short and medium haul aircraft as it has in its new long haul A330s.
 
Both the Oman Air’s new Airbus A330-300s and new Boeing B737s feature seats newly-designed by Zodiac Aerospace. Each offers exceptional comfort and features a one-piece composite seat back structure, a high seat back pivot and articulating bottom pan and a four-way adjustable headrest.
 
Seat pitches reflect the length of flights each aircraft are deployed upon, with the A330’s 265 seats offering 32 inches and the 737-900ER’s 171 seats offering 30 inches. A folding aisle-side armrest offers increased ease of access, and a sturdy, bi-fold, sliding food table makes a pleasure of in-seat dining or working.
 
Meanwhile, the 10.6-inch seatback LCD screen offers access to the same IFE options as those enjoyed in Business Class. A USB is mounted on the LCD screen that can be used to charge any mobile smart phone and each pair of seats shares a PC power port.
 
Comments of professionalism of the cabin crew:

The cabin crew appear to have been trained very well, and seem to know how to handle all kinds of situations. The trainers must have had everything thrown at them, ranging from rowdy passengers to those having a nervous breakdown. These people are amazing. They really do pamper you.
 
Now, I am not saying this because I was travelling in Business Class, but the crew were very friendly and hospitable to ALL the passengers, and showed a genuine smile whenever. Like I said before that I have not been on any of the South Asian carriers, and I have read horror stories of passengers experiencing delayed flights, bad customer service, blocked toilets etc. But, contrary to belief, I experienced none of that. The plane was very clean, the food was out of this world delicious, and the customer service was authentic, genuine and just awesome.

Comments on the interior of the aircraft (including seat comfort): 
 
The Business Class regional cabin is fitted with the spanking new fully angle flat seat, which has a pitch of 40 inches and a width of 21.
 
There is certainly plenty of space available. I had my camera bag (which is annoyingly big), plus my laptop (I seldom have to sleep on a daytime flight so I end up working!), AND my carrier bag. All of these were neatly stored before departure. Oh, there is also space for you to put your shoes during the long flight so you can sit like as if you are sitting on your sofa at home. There were plenty of in-flight magazines and newspapers (both Arabic and Western) for passengers.

There was no amenity kit provided for this short-haul regional flight.
 
Oman Air logo and livery: 
 
In 2008, Oman Air completely overhauled its livery, switching its base colour from red to turquoise blue and ditching the traditional khanjar dagger symbol in favour of a logo representing incense smoke. Oman Air chief executive Ziad Al-Haremi at the time unveiled the new livery at a ceremony in Muscat. The new identity follows the Omani Government’s decision to withdraw from Gulf Air and concentrate on developing Oman Air as the sultanate’s sole flag-carrier. The livery features a gold-and-silver swirl which is reminiscent of a swirl of smoke from the aromatic resin frankincense for which Oman is particularly renowned.
 
The turquoise colour represents the expanse of both the sky and the sea while the gold and silver colours stand for Oman’s wealth and silver artefacts – including the curved khanjar dagger, the national symbol which Oman Air’s livery previously featured.

Malaysia Airlines is the national flag carrier of Malaysia and is the largest airline in Malaysia based on fleet size, international destinations and international flights. The airline serves 60 destinations, both international and domestic. It is among the top 20 airlines in the world in terms of passengers carried and is also the top-ranked international cargo airline.
 
At the time of writing, Malaysia Airlines operates a fleet of 86 aircraft, including 6 Airbus A380 and 56 state-of-the-art Boeing 737NG aircraft.
 
This was the first time I flew with Malaysia Airlines. I was on the flight from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Kathmandu International Airport on Malaysia Airlines’ Boeing 737-800NG to check out their Business Class seats!
 
Route: KUALA LUMPUR INTL. AIRPORT (KUL) to KATHMANDU (KTM)

Departure date and time of flight: 09:55am, August 2015

Flight number: MH170 (ICAO call sign: “Malaysian”)

Flight duration: 4h 50m

Class: BUSINESS CLASS

Aircraft type: BOEING 737-800NG (56 in service)
 
Unit cost of each Boeing 737-800NG: US$72.5 million (2015)
 
Aircraft registration: 9M-MSB (First flight 7th March 2013)
 
Engine Type: Two x CFMI CFM56-7B26
 
Aircraft Serial Number: 40144 LN: 4385
 
Frequent flyer programme:
 
Malaysia Airlines' frequent flyer programme is called Enrich by Malaysia Airlines (Enrich). Enrich comprises a variety of airlines, banks, credit-card issuers, hotels and retailers around the world.
 
Seat configuration for this aircraft:
 
Business Class: 16 angle-flat seats in a 2-2 configuration
Economy Class: 150 seats in a 3-3 configuration
 
Punctuality of the flight:
 
Departed bang on time, and landed exactly on time in a hot and dry Kathmandu.
 
Any baggage issues:
 
No issues regarding the baggage. For Economy Class, Malaysia Airlines have a checked baggage allowance of 23 kg total for all routes excluding transatlantic routes, and upto 40kg for Business Class. All routes have a carry-on allowance of one piece not exceeding 7 kg (50x37x25 cm). Click here to see more details
 
Comments on the check-in staff and flight route:

The check-in staff were very professional and came across as well-trained. At Kuala Lumpur airport, Malaysia Airlines have a separate check-in for Business Class passengers. The flight departed on time and landed on time as well. 90% of the flight was over cloudy skies, and so on approach to Kathmandu, there was a slight glimpse of the Himalayas as we came in from Indian airspace.
 
Lounge Experience at Kuala Lumpur
 
The Golden Lounge is the airport lounge for Malaysia Airlines First Class, Golden Club Class passengers and Enrich Platinum and Enrich Gold, eligible Oneworld and code-share partner members. The Golden Lounges have open bars and food catering. There are 11 Golden Lounges throughout the world, and qualified passengers have full reciprocal privileges at lounges operated by selected partners. The lounge offers various services such as business centres, food catering, slumber rooms and child-care centres.
 
Lounges are maintained at the following airports: Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, London, Melbourne and Penang. In April 2008, the airline launched its new Regional Golden Lounge at the KL International Airport (KLIA) for regional-bound front-end passengers. With this new lounge, Malaysia Airlines at Kuala Lumpur International Airport now has three lounges: the Satellite International Terminal Lounge, Domestic Lounge and Regional Lounge. From 1 September 2015, Malaysia Airlines closed down lounges in Perth Airport and Singapore Changi Airport in order to cut and slash cost for their renationalisation.
 
The lounge was quite empty, with only a handful of passengers for the morning flights that were going out of KL.
 
Comments regarding the pre-flight service:
 
Upon embarking the aircraft, passengers in Business Class and Economy Class were offered welcome drinks consisting of fresh orange juice, fresh apple juice, mineral water (champagne, wines in Business Class only). The cabin crew are truly one of the best trained I have met on any other airline. Customer comes first and Malaysia Airlines truly define the meaning of a five-star service. 
 
Comments regarding the pre-meal service:
 
Passengers in Business Class were offered a packet of fresh pretzels packed in Malaysia Airlines branded packets, and a choice of drinks from the trolley service. The cabin crew were polite and friendly. Even though this flight was full, the cabin crew paid full attention each and every customer instead of just passing the meal to passengers like they do on some other airlines. A warm and wet towel was handed out to Business Class passengers.
 
I just resorted to drinking plenty of bottled water. Though they may sound very tempting, however, alcohol and coffee are not good to drink during a flight as it just dehydrates you. Water is the best.
 
Comments regarding the first meal:

The main meal tray arrived at around 30 minutes after take-off from Kuala Lumpur. There were two options for the main meal:

1. Malaysia breakfast
2. Western breakfast

 
I opted for the Western breakfast. Cheese Omelette, which consisted of roasted new potato, chicken sausage, cherry tomato and mushroom.
 
Accompanying the main dish was a bowl of fresh seasonal fruit. For dessert, I had strawberry and lime charlotte. Malaysia Airlines serves their meals using stainless steel cutlery.

Comments regarding the after meal drinks and in-flight snacks:

Plenty of fresh water, coffee and tea are offered in lovely Malaysia Airlines branded bone china cups were offered.

Comments regarding the second meal:

None. There was no second meal.
 
Comments on the in-flight entertainment system:

Almost all 737-800s have personal AVOd screens featuring a wide variety of music and audio options. All other 737-800s have standard audio options.
 
Almost all 737-800s have personal AVOD screens for all seats. Business Class has 10.6" screens while Economy Class has 9" screens. All other 737-800s have overhead screens. There is an 110v AC power outlet at every Business Class seat.
 
Comments of professionalism of the cabin crew:

The cabin crew were very hospitable, and proud to work for Malaysia Airlines. There was a genuine smile on every crew members face and you could tell that they really enjoyed their job. There was a real sense of teamwork in the cabin. As a customer (or passenger) it is easy to tell if the cabin crew are not getting along with each other (it does happen like any other job!), and on this flight I could see that everyone was in a joyous mood. If there was something I wanted or a question I had, then no one objected to it. Instead, they tried their best to help me as much as they could. The senior purser was just gem of a person. The whole flight experience was like magic, and everything seemed to go smoothly. So, yes the world can be ideal sometimes. I wrote about this flight here.

Comments on the interior of the aircraft (including seat comfort): 
 
Business Class (previously known as Golden Club Class) is available on all of Malaysia Airlines' fleet. In 2011, Malaysia Airlines introduced the new business class seats on their brand new Airbus A330-300. While newer regional business class seats were also introduced on the Boeing 737-800 to be used on short-medium haul routes such as Kota Kinabalu, Taipei and Manila. Seats made by Recaro within the business class cabin of new A330-300 are configured in pairs (2-2-2) layout, fitted with in-seat power and USB port, as well as new Select 3000i on a 15.4 inches touch screen panel, while the Boeing 737-800 are fitted in pairs (2-2) inclusive of the new Select 3000i and have recline ability. The first Airbus A330-300 carrying the new Regional Business Class was assigned to Kuala Lumpur - Brisbane sector on 20 April 2011. Starting April 2015, Malaysia Airlines introduced new Business Class seats, provided by Thompson Aero Seating, equipped with fully lie-flat seats for their A330 fleet. This will be in a staggered layout with alternate rows in the 1-2-2 and 1-2-1 configuration.
 
Meal tray table conveniently stowed in the armrest. Cocktail tables are available at the center armrest. Individual overhead reading lights. Seat cover: Woolen. Headrest cover: Linen. Seats are arranged in pairs (2-2).
 
Malaysia Airlines logo and livery: 
 
The original corporate logo was designed by Dato' Johan Ariff, and was introduced on 15 October 1987, retaining the essence of the moon kite, with a sheared swept-back look. Along with the new corporate logo, a new type style - MALAYSIA, was created. It is italicised to slant parallel with the logo to accentuate speed as well as direction. Within this corporate typestyle, the letters MAS bear red clippings to denote the initials of the statutory name of the airline, Malaysian Airline System (MAS), and were added after the original design was rejected by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad. The introduction of blue to the original red logo has national significance. The red and blue divides equally in the middle to denote equilibrium. On 8 March 2012, Malaysia Airlines unveiled a new logo featuring an all-blue moon kite and livery for its Airbus A380 fleet. Months later, the corporate logo of red and blue was refreshed.
 
The new moon kite logo faces from left to right, as it did in the original 1971 logo, and its tails have been extended. The wordmark has also been modernised with a new typeface and the word "airlines" is now presented in lowercase. On 1st September 2015, Malaysia Airlines rebranded as Malaysia Airlines Berhad but for the time being remained to use the same logo and branding
 
Overall rating 1-10 (worst-best): 10

Malaysia Airlines is the national flag carrier of Malaysia and is the largest airline in Malaysia based on fleet size, international destinations and international flights. The airline serves 60 destinations, both international and domestic. It is among the top 20 airlines in the world in terms of passengers carried and is also the top-ranked international cargo airline.
 
At the time of writing, Malaysia Air operates a fleet of 86 aircraft, including 6 Airbus A380 and 56 state-of-the-art Boeing 737NG aircraft.
 
This was the first time I flew with Malaysia Airlines. I was on the flight from Hong Kong Chep Lap Kok Airport to Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Malaysia Airlines’ Boeing 737-800NG to check out their Economy Class seats!
 
Route: HONG KONG (HKG) to KUALA LUMPUR INTL. AIRPORT (KUL)

Departure date and time of flight: 08:45am, August 2015

Flight number: MH79 (ICAO call sign: “Malaysian”)

Flight duration: 3h 55m

Class: ECONOMY CLASS

Aircraft type: BOEING 737-800NG (56 in service)
 
Unit cost of each Boeing 737-800NG: US$72.5 million (2015)
 
Aircraft registration: 9M-MXL (First flight 26th October 2012)
 
Engine Type: Two x CFMI CFM56-7B26
 
Aircraft Serial Number: 40139 LN: 4246
 
Frequent flyer programme:
 
Malaysia Airlines' frequent flyer programme is called Enrich by Malaysia Airlines (Enrich). Enrich comprises a variety of airlines, banks, credit-card issuers, hotels and retailers around the world.
 
Seat configuration for this aircraft:
 
Business Class: 16 angle-flat seats in a 2-2 configuration
Economy Class: 150 seats in a 3-3 configuration
 
Punctuality of the flight:
 
Departed bang on time, and landed 20 minutes ahead of schedule. Was greeted with a final view of Shenzhen as we departed Hong Kong – quite a sad moment as the city means so much to me and I will no doubt miss living there.
 
Any baggage issues:
 
No issues regarding the baggage. For Economy Class, Malaysia Airlines have a checked baggage allowance of 23 kg total for all routes excluding transatlantic routes, and upto 40kg for Business Class. All routes have a carry-on allowance of one piece not exceeding 7 kg (50x37x25 cm). Click here to see more details
 
Comments on the check-in staff and flight route:

It is always a pleasure when flying from Hong Kong. The previous night I had stayed at the Hong Kong Regal Airport, voted one of the best airport’s in the world.
 
During approach into Kuala Lumpur, passengers have to contend with turbulence due to the localised hot air rising from the canopy. Kuala Lumpur airport is surrounded by lush green forests. We had a few bumps, and suddenly most of the passengers went “Ohhhh”. Considering that Malaysia Airlines unfortunately experienced two crashes in 2014, it was quite a tense moment indeed, where you think “Oh dear lord, I hope not this time!” I honestly thought that the turbulence was the cause of the sudden smoothing of the approach as their planes cross into the airport.
 
Comments regarding the pre-flight service:
 
Upon embarking the aircraft, passengers in Business Class and Economy Class were offered welcome drinks consisting of fresh orange juice, fresh apple juice, mineral water (champagne, wines in Business Class only). The cabin crew are truly one of the best trained I have met on any other airline. Customer comes first and Malaysia Airlines truly define the meaning of a five-star service.
 
Comments regarding the pre-meal service:
 
Passengers in Economy Class were offered a packet of fresh pretzels packed in Malaysia Airlines branded packets, and a choice of drinks from the trolley service. The cabin crew were polite and friendly. Even though this flight was full, the cabin crew paid full attention each and every customer instead of just passing the meal to passengers like they do on some other airlines. I just resorted to drinking plenty of bottled water. Though they may sound very tempting, however, alcohol and coffee are not good to drink during a flight as it just dehydrates you. Water is the best.
 
Comments regarding the first meal:

The meal tray arrived at around 30 minutes after take-off from Hong Kong. There were two options for the main meal:
 

1. Malaysia spicy beef and rice
2. Fish with rice.

 
I opted for the fish with rice and vegetables. The food was fresh, and better than what you get on most other airlines in Economy Class. This is why Malaysia Airlines is different because they provide a fine dining experience in all classes of travel- one that is easily comparable to going to a five-star restaurant. You get what you pay for, and Malaysia Airlines does not fail.
 
Accompanying the main dish was a bowl of freshly cut salad with carrot shredding, tomato, cucumber and shredded lettuce all in one action packed bowl!). It’s ridiculously good to have some crunchy salad to accompany a slightly heavy yet tasty dish as I had. Orange juice and mineral water were provided by Malaysian company Spritzer.  
 
For dessert, Malaysia Airlines provided a bowl of sweet sago rice. In Economy Class, Malaysia Air still provides plastic cutlery to the passengers. 

Comments regarding the after meal drinks and in-flight snacks:

Plenty of fresh water, coffee and tea are offered in lovely Malaysia Airlines branded paper cups (that can be recycled) were offered.

Comments regarding the second meal:

None. There was no second meal.
 
Comments on the in-flight entertainment system:

Almost all 737-800s have personal AVOd screens featuring a wide variety of music and audio options. All other 737-800s have standard audio options.
 
Almost all 737-800s have personal AVOD screens for all seats. Business Class has 10.6" screens while Economy Class has 9" screens. All other 737-800s have overhead screens. There is an 110v AC power outlet at every Business Class seat.
 
Comments of professionalism of the cabin crew:

The cabin crew were very hospitable, and proud to work for Malaysia Airlines. There was a genuine smile on every crew members face and you could tell that they really enjoyed their job. There was a real sense of teamwork in the cabin. As a customer (or passenger) it is easy to tell if the cabin crew are not getting along with each other (it does happen like any other job!), and on this flight I could see that everyone was in a joyous mood. If there was something I wanted or a question I had, then no one objected to it. Instead, they tried their best to help me as much as they could. The senior purser was just gem of a person. The whole flight experience was like magic, and everything seemed to go smoothly. So, yes the world can be ideal sometimes.

Comments on the interior of the aircraft (including seat comfort): 
 
Economy class is available on all of Malaysia Airlines' fleet. Seats feature a pitch of 33-34 inches and width of 17-17.25 inches, while the newer fleets such as the Airbus A380, Airbus A330-300 and Boeing 737-800 feature seat pitch of 30-32 inches and width of 17-17.5 inches. On the Boeing 777-200, it has a 6.5" personal TV located behind each seat, and a footrest located below the seat in front, the leased 737-800 has no personal TV but overhead TV's located in the aisles of the plane and feature a seat pitch of 29-30 inches. The new A330-300 as well as the new 737-800 all have the new Select 3000i. In 2010, economy class was voted the World's Best Economy Class at the 2010 World Airline Awards by Skytrax.
 
Seatback meal tray tables are available except in the front row which is an 'in-arm' table. Individual overhead reading lights. Seat cover: Woolen. Headrest cover: Paper disposable. Seats are arranged as 3-3.
 
Malaysia Airlines logo and livery: 
 
The original corporate logo was designed by Dato' Johan Ariff, and was introduced on 15 October 1987, retaining the essence of the moon kite, with a sheared swept-back look. Along with the new corporate logo, a new type style - MALAYSIA, was created. It is italicised to slant parallel with the logo to accentuate speed as well as direction. Within this corporate typestyle, the letters MAS bear red clippings to denote the initials of the statutory name of the airline, Malaysian Airline System (MAS), and were added after the original design was rejected by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad. The introduction of blue to the original red logo has national significance. The red and blue divides equally in the middle to denote equilibrium. On 8 March 2012, Malaysia Airlines unveiled a new logo featuring an all-blue moon kite and livery for its Airbus A380 fleet. Months later, the corporate logo of red and blue was refreshed.
 
The new moon kite logo faces from left to right, as it did in the original 1971 logo, and its tails have been extended. The wordmark has also been modernised with a new typeface and the word "airlines" is now presented in lowercase. On 1st September 2015, Malaysia Airlines rebranded as Malaysia Airlines Berhad but for the time being remained to use the same logo and branding
 
Overall rating 1-10 (worst-best): 10

Route: Chongqing International Airport to Shenzhen Airport

Departure date and time of flight: 17:20 on 10th August 2015 (delayed by five hours, and arrived at 2am into Shenzhen)

Flight number: QQ8141/CZ8141 (code share with China Southern, but using a Chongqing Airlines plane)

Flight duration: 45 minutes

Class: Economy Class

Aircraft type: Airbus A321

Punctuality of the flight:
 
The flight departed around five hours late, and arrived at around 2am in Shenzhen
 
Top Tip: Try not to fly when you have a cold. I made the fatal mistake of doing so, and ended up with the worst ear blockage ever. As soon as we started our decent into Chongqing, my hearing just went, and with exceedingly painful results. The consequences were that I sought to get a doctor’s advice as soon as we landed in Chongqing- and that didn’t help either (because I had a cold). It also didn’t help that I had a connecting flight to Shenzhen the same evening, and two days after that I was due to fly to Kuala Lumpur, and then Kathmandu (high-altitude again!). The only solution was to go to the hospital in Shenzhen and get my ears cleared using sound therapy, and to take a dose of antibiotics throughout my time in Kuala Lumpur and Kathmandu (before flying long-haul to London).

Any baggage issues:
 
I had a large backpack, weighing around 12kg, which I checked-in as hold luggage. This was the first time I had taken a trip with a backpack, and without much hand luggage.

Comments regarding the pre-meal service:

None

Comments regarding the first meal:

Just a bottle of water, and two plain buns.

Comments regarding the drinks service:

Selection of various drinks.

Comments regarding the in-flight snacks (if any):

None
 
Comments regarding the second meal (if any):

None
 
Comments on the in-flight system (if any):

None

Comments on the interior of the aircraft (including seat comfort): 

This Airbus A321 aircraft has a seat configuration of 3-3 with an all Economy Class seat set up.